So here we are the final chapter before the Epilogue. Well technically this is the last chapter. I want to thank everyone who has reviewed, faved and alerted this story. It was so much fun. Make sure to vote in the poll as it will be closed at the end of the week. Thank you for all the help, Racey.

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.

Chapter 10: The Bond

Day of the Coming of Age Ceremony

"We are gathered here to commemorate the young incubi who are ready to travel into adulthood. They've been through birth, childhood and now it is time for them to grow and take part in continuing the race for generations to come." The Elders looked out into the group of standing demons.

"We are also gathered here today to commemorate the victory of defeating Lord Aizen of the Arrancar and the return of the great Incubi King. Tonight we celebrate these events as we drink our wine and party into the next day." The incubi cheered and shouted, glad that Aizen and his followers were no longer causing havoc throughout their world. They couldn't wait to see their king and hopefully their new queen.

Ichigo sighed as he sat in a tent situated off in the corner, listening to the elders speak. Ever since they had come back from the battle, people had been trying to keep him away from Grimmjow. They wouldn't let him see him and it was starting to wrack his nerves. Shiro had told him it was because it was the law for incubi who were about to become officially bonded. He could care less; he just wanted to see Grimmjow. He knew the blue haired man was probably just as furious about hearing the news.

Shiro had said they would have some type of marriage ceremony for Ichigo and Grimmjow and he would officially become the blunet's queen and mate. He sighed again, looking at the outfit he was supposed to be wearing. It was so effeminate and…revealing. All there was, was a long skirt like cloth. It was only to wrap around his hips, leaving his thighs and long legs revealed. There was no top, only jewels to be laid across his neck and wrapped around his hips as a belt. More jewelry lay across a small dresser to be placed around his wrist and ankle and in his hair.

He hated having to be treated as if he was a woman, just because he wasn't the alpha. He scowled to himself. No one treated Shiro like that, so why him? He rose from his seated position and walked over to the window-like opening in the tent. He glanced out, looking at the always night sky. The crescent moon was bright and beaming its rays down on the congregation of demons. He gazed out onto the white sand that seemed to reach farther than the eye could see. The warm breeze was wafting around him and flowing through his hair.

It was so calm, so comfortable. He wondered what was really going to happen after the whole "marriage" ceremony. He knew he could return to the human world, but Grimmjow was a king and he would have to rule over his land. He refused to be without Grimmjow any longer. For him to be in the human world and the blunet there was just all kinds of wrong.

Ichigo didn't care much for either world, but he would stay wherever his loved ones were. He continued to gaze out of the window, not noticing the small black cat prancing into the room.

"Mew." Ichigo looked over his shoulder and down at the black cat sitting in the middle of the room. He gazed into the large golden cat eyes before smiling.

"Hello, Yoruichi," Ichigo spoke. The small black cat transformed into a curvy, naked, dark-skinned woman with long purple hair, making Ichigo's face turn beet red. He swiftly turned his face back around towards the window, trying to ignore the laughing woman. "Why must you always do that!"

"Because I love the look on your face." Yoruichi sauntered over towards Ichigo and grabbed a silk, white robe lying on the chair. She slowly slipped into it and tied the sash around her waist.

"Get some clothing on!"

"Already done, my child." Ichigo cautiously looked over his shoulder before sighing in relief and turning fully towards the dark-skinned woman. He watched as the woman plopped down onto the small couch before she pointed to the area between her legs. He slowly made his way over and sat on the floor. He could feel the woman's fingers slowly running themselves through his hair.

Yoruichi Shihōin was considered a noble throughout the incubi world, though you couldn't tell just by being around her. She was an interesting and very out-going woman. She was the person that found Shiro and Ichigo when they had fled from the home after their mother was killed. She took them in and took care of them with her long-time partner Kisuke Urahara. Ichigo viewed them both as parental guardians and treated them as such. She was the only incubi that knew the whereabouts of Ichigo and Shiro's father, as well as the demons that framed their mother.

She refused to tell Ichigo who did it and his father had always been a mystery. He had disappeared and hadn't been seen ever again, but Yoruichi seemed to always have information about him. Ichigo always wondered why his vampire father abandoned them. He really hoped whatever the reason; it was a pretty damn good one.

"So, Ichigo…you are finally getting bonded…and to an Espada, no less. I thought you were going to be bonded to me," the cat woman said, pouting down at the orange hair. Ichigo just rolled his eyes. The woman had an on-going joke of getting married to the fiery, lithe male, knowing he was not into women. Yoruichi was really the only woman he could actually be around without going into a fit of shock. He continued to ignore her as she fiddled with his hair. "…He is a good man, though. Your father would be proud."

"I bet he would." Ichigo's voice was laced with venom. He would never forgive his father for leaving them all alone. It was that man's fault that his mother wasn't around.

"Don't be like that, Ichigo. Your father did what he could to protect you two."

"He left us and our mother was killed and Shiro was raped. That doesn't sound like protection to me. He's just a selfish vampire, just like the rest of those blood sucking animals."

"You are a vampire as well." Ichigo looked down at his fingers and huffed.

"I…know. Sometimes I wish I wasn't. I would hate to turn out as selfish as my father."

"You aren't a selfish person and I'm sure you never will be. Your father had his reasons for leaving and even though he did, he never stops thinking about you." Ichigo turned his body to the side so that he could look Yoruichi in the eye.

"How do you know all of this? Does my father stay in contact with you?" The dark-skinned woman pressed her lips together before sighing.

"Your father worked closely with my family, so of course my family keeps tabs on him. A long time ago, he found out that you and Shiro came into my care and made sure to stay in contact with me. He does care about you two, but he isn't allowed to see you. Incubi and vampires aren't even supposed to be together, let alone have children. It's forbidden."

"So that's why he left?" Yoruichi nodded and turned Ichigo's head back towards the front. She continued to work her fingers through his long, tangerine hair, braiding pieces here and there. She would let the boy digest the information and hopefully, that would be the end of the questions about his father. Ichigo sat quietly. So his father really did stay away for a good reason. Frowning, he looked down at his toes, wiggling them and flexing them. "…Will I ever see him again?"

"I'm not sure, but he probably wouldn't miss the day that his son got married." Ichigo looked up at Yoruichi to see her with a soft smile on her face. He looked back down to his toes and smiled as well. He guessed that was okay.

Grimmjow paced back and forth in his tent on the opposite side of the camp. He was nervous. Marriage. Getting married. He was getting married. To…Ichigo. He could feel amused gold eyes watching his every move. He had never even thought about marriage. He couldn't even begin to react to that information. Wasn't there supposed to be steps before the whole ceremony? He didn't even date Ichigo long enough, let alone propose to the smaller man.

He frowned and ran a hand through his azure, chaotic hair. It was tussled and sticking out in various areas. "Grimmjow, chill the fuck out. It's just marriage. You aren't dying."

"That's easy for you to say. You are dating Nnoitra. He would never ask you to marry him."

"Well, I wouldn't marry him even if he asked. I'm a free agent." Grimmjow chuckled dryly. He knew Shiro wouldn't say that where the lanky man's ear could hear. He could tell the white haired demon was head over heels for his best friend and he was just talking a load of shit.

"If you say so, Shiro." Grimmjow threw himself on the couch next to Shiro and looked out of the opened tent door. He wondered how Ichigo was feeling about all this. If the smaller male wanted to call all this off, he would jump at the idea. It was hard to see himself married to anyone, let alone Ichigo. He had gone to the ends of the earth for him and he had a scar to prove it, but he still didn't know if that was really enough.

He was still trying to get over the fact that he was about to rule over a world of thousands of demons and the fact that he was a demon himself. It was still a lot to take in. He sighed and glanced at his hands, balling them up before releasing them again. "What's really making you so nervous, monkey?"

Grimmjow would ignore the new nickname given to him, to talk about serious matters. "Do you think I can do this? Rule over so many demons?" Shiro sighed. He really wanted to knock some sense into the blue haired demon.

"Stop second guessing yourself, idiot. You led a group of demons into a fortress and killed a powerful leader."

"With the help of Ichigo." Shiro frowned. Well he knew that much was true, but there wasn't really anything wrong with that. Ichigo was supposed to be the blunet's mate, being his other half. Grimmjow was a lot stronger than he had showed, but he knew that with practice the man could be almost as strong as Ichigo.

"Look, don't worry about that. Ichigo is there to have your back and vice versa. Don't let it get you down." Shiro rose into a standing position and started making his way to the portal to the outside. "Now all this mushy talk is making me itchy. I'm leaving. See ya later."

Grimmjow watched as Shiro left and he chuckled to himself. He was such in a bi-polar demon.

Ichigo looked as if he would die from embarrassment. His face was redder than a tomato and the color was slowly rising to his ears. The look on Grimmjow's face was full of amusement and not a hint of being nervous was even noticeable. The man was getting a kick out of how bothered Ichigo was. There they were, standing in front of thousands of demons as one of the elders spoke the bonding pledge.

Ichigo tried to calm his nerves, but nothing he did would make him relax. He looked up into Grimmjow's swirling, cerulean eyes as the bigger man gazed down at him, practically leering at his exposed chest. He looked away, trying to ignore the lustful look in his mate's eyes.

[Don't look away like you don't see me gazing at you.]

[Shut up, Grimmjow! Stop being a pervert.] Grimmjow had started enjoying using his powers in the middle of large crowds.

[Says the incubus.] Ichigo pressed his lips together and glared up at the taller man, who just smirked down at him.

[I hate you. Why are we even doing this stupid ceremony?]

[Awww, come on, you know you love me.] Ichigo turned his face away from Grimmjow and the blunet watched the color change on Ichigo's face again.

[So, what if I do? That doesn't mean I want to be standing up here with you.] Grimmjow's smile fell from his lips. He didn't think Ichigo would seriously agree to be in love with him. He was just joking. His eyebrows slowly pushed together and his mouth turned into a thin line, his lips turning white. Ichigo glanced up to see Grimmjow with an unreadable expression on his face. [Grimmjow?]

[D-did you just mean what you said?]

[What did I say?]

[That you love me.]

[I didn't say that!]

[But you didn't deny it when I said you loved me.] Ichigo's face went slack jawed as he stared up at Grimmjow. The elder that was waiting for one of the men to respond to him gazed at the two demons with confusion. He had been waiting for Ichigo to repeat after him, when he noticed the young man's face. He glanced at his king to notice the man's face was pulled into a obscure expression.

"Uh, gentlemen." He watched as Ichigo's eyes turned towards him. The orange haired man wasn't sure what was going on and he continued to gaze at the very old man. He waited for Grimmjow to turn his way, but the man seemed stunned. "We are in the middle of a ceremony right now. Or…did you forget?"

[Grimmjow…Grimmjow!] The orange haired demon continued to call the blunet's name through their connection, but the man was seriously frozen. He sighed and glanced back at the old man. "Can we just skip all this vow crap? It's really stupid anyway." The elderly man was astonished at what Ichigo was saying. To think that this young man was going to be the queen. He sighed. Young people just didn't have any respect.

Grimmjow sighed as he spoke to another noble incubus. After the bonding ritual, the inauguration of his kingship and the branding, he was exhausted. He reached his hand up, fiddling with the new gold cuff wrapped around the flesh of his ear. He seriously was going to have to get used to that. He glanced away from the pompous noble. He saw a lithe, sexy body across the way. The thin, white cloth wrapped around those narrow but luscious hips. He couldn't wait until this all was over. He needed to lay claim to his queen soon.

He watched as cinnamon mocha orbs turned his way. Long, apricot hair blew in the warm, soft night breeze and those soft lips pulled into a small smile. Grimmjow took a swig of the wine he had and handed it off to the noble that was still rambling to him. He swiftly made his way over to his mate and pulled him away from the group of people that was talking to him. They stared with astonished eyes. The new king and queen were just a bunch of kids with not a care in the world. They were rude, brash and probably didn't know or really care what was going on in the world. The people wondered what were the Elders thinking, putting those two in charge.

"Gri-Grimmjow? I was talking."

"Well, now you are dancing. Where's some music when you need some?" Grimmjow looked around, trying to find silver-white hair in the sea of subtle hair colors. When he found it he locked eyes with gold ones and conveyed a message to Shiro. Only a few minutes later, music began to play. "Ahh, there we go." The blue haired demon slid his hands down the sides of Ichigo's torso before placing them on the narrow hips.

"Grimmjow, this is embarrassing. Everyone is watching," Ichigo whispered. He tried to cover his face with Grimmjow's broad chest, but he could still feel eyes penetrating him.

"So? Fuck them. It's just you and me. Where is my little sex demon?" He softly nipped at the cuff wrapped around Ichigo's ear, earning a soft moan from him. "Where's the little demon that attacked me in the school library?"

"I did not attack you in the library!" Ichigo glared up at the bigger man. Grimmjow's face was beaming with amusement and his laughter was louder than the music. "Stupid sex fiend. I hate you so much."

"Yeah, yeah whatever you say, berry."

"I didn't attack you."

"You did in your studio." Ichigo's face turned red and he buried it into Grimmjow's chest again.

"Shut up," Ichigo mumbled. "I was in the moment."

"I'm not complaining. I'm just trying to figure out when it's going to happen again." Ichigo glanced up into swirling blue eyes. He actually had been thinking the same thing. They were officially a couple in the eyes of everyone, but Ichigo had yet to be claimed by Grimmjow.

"Uhm, well, maybe…later on? When we get to your castle?" Grimmjow smirked and leaned down, capturing Ichigo's lips. The smaller male gasped, letting Grimmjow's tongue dive in and savor the taste of him. He pushed himself closer, his already hard, dusky nipples brushing against Grimmjow's rock solid body. He could feel the bigger man's hands sliding across his lower back before they dipped to his bottom, squeezing and fondling his cheeks. Ichigo whined, loving the feel of it.

Grimmjow pulled way, looking down into the eyes that were slowly being taken over by black. He knew his own eyes were probably doing the same. "It's our castle, berry."

The once quiet castle was filled with bustling demons. They had been trying to get the large fortress ready for both their king and queen. New drapery and furnishing now adorned every inch of the castle. Every crack had disappeared and every section was filled with furniture. They place finally looked lived in, being cozy and somewhat homey. No more pale and white colors and deep, rich warms colors flowed from room to room. Although this was so, it only looked like flashing colors to Grimmjow as he quickly made his way down the hallway, the floor covered in a long deep blue runner. Ichigo was right behind him, trying to get used to the way the blunet was dragging him along towards their bedroom.

When Ichigo had said later on, he had meant after the party was over and everyone got to see them, but Grimmjow had other plans. As soon as they had finished dancing, he had dragged Ichigo along so that they could go home. He was more than ready to state his claim and do things to his mate that would make him scream his pleasure for all to hear.

"Grimmjow! Stop dragging me!" The orange haired demon's arm was starting to hurt and he felt like he would trip if the bigger man kept pulling him along. The blunet growled and pulled Ichigo close to him, lifting him up and throwing him over his shoulder. He continued to trot down the hallway, ignoring the looks from the servant demons. "Ahhhh! Grimmjow! Put me down!"

Ichigo was trying his best to fix the draping cloth covering his naked lower body and beat on Grimmjow's back at the same time. After a while he finally gave up, huffing in defeat and drumming his fingers against the bigger man's back. "I hate you."

"I hate you too, berry." Grimmjow finally made it to the end of the hall where his room lay. He kicked open the door and stalked in, kicking the door back behind him. He quickly made his way over to the sleeping quarters. A large circular platform style bed sat in the very corner of the room. It was wrapped in a deep blue silk and a large amount of colored pillows covered it.

He threw the berry down in the middle and watched as he bounced. He quickly shed himself of his top and threw it onto the floor before crawling his way to the middle and over Ichigo. His sclera was already starting to be engulfed in black and his pupils flashed light blue. The oranget looked up, gazing into those shining blue and his body started to get hot. He watched as Grimmjow slowly descended to his neck. He felt hot lips on his jugular and moaned. They made their way over and Ichigo felt kisses being laid across his shoulder. He leaned back on his elbows, letting Grimmjow explore his body with his mouth.

He felt a tug around his neck and looked down to see the necklace he had been wearing lying in a heap on the bed sheets. He watched as Grimmjow's hand slid up the side of his torso as the man's mouth continued downward, hissing when he felt Grimmjow's mouth wrap around his nipple. It sucked and lapped at it, as if it was the sweetest treat. Ichigo leaned his head back and moaned, his fingers gripping the bed sheets below.

The blunet made his way back up, making sure to kiss a trail to Ichigo's lips. His chest rubbed against Ichigo's, making the smaller man hum at the feeling. Ichigo's mind was filling with intimate thoughts of what he wanted to do with Grimmjow. His body quivered with want and he could feel his body starting to change. He opened his eyes to see Grimmjow's white horns growing from under his blue hair. He watched with hooded eyes as Grimmjow's thin tail sat upright in a stiff manner. He groaned and pulled away from Grimmjow. Their lips disconnected and the blunet stared down into gold eyes.

"Hurry," Ichigo mumbled. Grimmjow quickly shed himself of his pants, his cock hard and ready. He pulled at Ichigo's cloth and threw it on the floor in the already growing pile. Though the man's cock was smaller, it was perfectly proportioned to Ichigo's body. A long vein went up the underside and the head was red and already covered in juices. It looked practically delicious. He lowered his mouth to hover over Ichigo's cock, his eyes never leaving the smaller male's. He could hear the whimper in his voice as he let his hot breath ghost over the throbbing head.

He softly sucked on the head of Ichigo's cock, eliciting a growling moan from the orange haired man. He smirked and continued to suck, licking the slit at the top. He ran his mouth down the side, nibbling on the skin before coming to the very top. Ichigo screamed in pleasure when his cock was engulfed in wet heat. His back arched as Grimmjow started to slowly bob his head. It was completely torturous and he wished Grimmjow would speed it up a little.

His horns throbbed and his fangs tingled as his body burned with passion. The lust in the room was getting denser and denser by the minute and Ichigo knew he would probably come any minute. He lolled his head to the side, his breath coming out in pants. He felt a soft touch run up his body and caught sight of Grimmjow's long fingers when they softly touched his lips. Ichigo got the idea and opened his mouth, letting three of the blunet's fingers dip inside. He closed his mouth around them, moaning and sucking as Grimmjow's mouth continued to pleasure him.

After Grimmjow felt his fingers were nice and wet, he removed them, a trail of spit still connecting them to Ichigo's mouth. He lowered them to where Ichigo's rose hole was and slowly dipped one in. Ichigo spread his legs a bit more so that the man could get him ready for what was in store. He really could care less if the man prepared him; he was already ready and just wanted to feel Grimmjow inside him.

One finger penetrated and stretched before another finger was added and then another. Ichigo couldn't take it anymore. He needed Grimmjow and he needed him right that second. He started to lift himself up, making Grimmjow pull back. The blue haired man watched as Ichigo advanced towards him and his eyes enlarged as he was thrown to the bed.

"You are taking too long," Ichigo growled. Grimmjow just smirked up at him and watched as Ichigo situated himself over the man's pelvis. He hissed when he felt Ichigo grip his cock and watched as the smaller man started to slowly descend on the throbbing matter. He groaned deep, feeling the tight heat wrapping around his cock. He lay back against the pillows and enjoyed the sight before him. Ichigo was glistening; the sweat dripping down his chest glowed in the moonlight. The man's long orange hair fell over his shoulder covering a small pert nipple. The small brown horns sat, curving a little. The man's black tail was swaying, the sharp fangs were showing and just waiting to bite into flesh.

He gripped the man's hips and pressed his feet against the mattress. He smirked devilishly up at Ichigo before slamming up hard. He loved the scream of pleasure that spilled from Ichigo's mouth and decided to do it again before starting a quick and hard rhythm. The boy's body was quivering and the small stretched hole squeezed around him so deliciously. Ichigo's body arched and he quickly pushed his hands back against Grimmjow's knees to keep his balance. Throwing his head back, he started to join Grimmjow's rhythm, pushing down when the bigger man pushed up.

"A-ahh, feels so good," Ichigo moaned. His head was thrown back as he continued to ride Grimmjow as hard as he could. The man's cock continued to jab at his prostate and he felt like he was in heaven. "Grimmjow!" The noises coming from that sweet little mouth was driving Grimmjow crazy.

The blue haired man couldn't take his eyes off the sight above him. It was just too glorious and he needed to make a mental snapshot. He watched with half-lidded eyes as Ichigo's horns started to grow. They pushed outward and started to curl around themselves. The boy's body started to emit a red glow around it before it started changing to blue. He watched as the red glow from before started to wrap around his arms and the rest of his body. He could feel it. Like the time when Ichigo helped him fight Aizen. The smaller male's energy was starting to flow through him. It was starting to make him tingle and he could feel the bed shaking beneath him. The feeling was intense and he felt like his body would burn up with how much pleasurable heat he was feeling. He could feel the boiling in his body and the coiling in his belly and he knew he was getting close.

The workers worked and the servants served. On the opposite side of the castle Shiro was getting his own little taste of ecstasy. Ulquiorra continued to work as he normally did so many years ago. Gin sat beside him, but stopped when he felt the energy rising. He could feel the bond taking place and the energy from both Ichigo and Grimmjow. It was stronger than anything he had ever felt before. His normal wide smile was even wider, but his eyes were slit open, showing off bright red eyes. He was in a cheery mood and Ulquiorra wondered if he should even be in the same room as the unreadable, yet perverted fox demon.

"They seem to be enjoying themselves."

"Gin…stop, seriously." The fox demon pouted to himself, but his eyes still held amusement. They continued their work until something made them stop. Everyone froze as they all felt the bond getting closer to being completed. They stood or sat, waiting and waiting.

"GRIMMJOWWWWWWW!" The voice boomed and echoed through the whole kingdom. It was filled with pleasure and as soon as it was heard the whole castle was engulfed in red and blue energy. It shot through every demon, some fainting on impact. It was official the bond had been created.

Ichigo and Grimmjow lay panting, the cool, silk sheets wrapped around their lower halves. Their bodies were dripping with sweat and Ichigo felt like he had just run a marathon. He was completely exhausted. He had never known bonding would be such hard work. He looked up, noticing the fang marks on Grimmjow's neck were starting to heal. He looked up higher to see the blue haired man with his eyes closed and the biggest smile he had ever seen on the man.

"Why are you smiling?"

"Cause that felt amazing." Ichigo lowered his eyes, a small smile adorning his lips. He did agree. It had felt amazing. "So…are you going to say it?" Ichigo made a noise.

"Say what?"

"That you love me." Ichigo's eyes widened and he looked up to see Grimmjow gazing down at him, his lips still pulled into a wide smile.

"NO!"

"Why not?" Grimmjow whined.

"Why do you want to hear it so badly?" Ichigo asked as he lowered his eyes to where his arms were wrapped around Grimmjow's larger body.

"Because I want to."

"Well, too bad, now go to sleep. I'm tired." Ichigo turned away from Grimmjow and laid his arms under his head. He smirked when he heard Grimmjow huff. The bigger man turned onto his side and wrapped his arms around Ichigo's waist. The orange haired man listened for Grimmjow's breath to even out before he whispered softly.

"…I KNEW IT!" Ichigo fell into a fit of giggles as Grimmjow squeezed his arms tighter around the man's waist, tickling the man's neck with his lips.

All through the kingdom, everyone worked and everyone served. Everyone could tell, no matter how much the two wanted to deny it. They were both very much in love.

THE END